CalArts will partner with the Themed Entertainment Association to host the 17th Annual Science + Art + Technology = Entertainment conference at the Valencia campus on October 5 and 6.

This year’s theme is “Beyond the Screen: The Future of Immersive Realities.”

With panels on storytelling, architecture, and technology, the conference explores the latest directions in immersive place-making, virtual and augmented reality, and story-based projects for theme parks, museums, entertainment venues and theatrical presentations.

The keynote speaker is CalArts alumnus and faculty member Michael Jung. As Executive Creative Director in charge of Theatrical Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, Jung will discuss the future of Experience Design with School of Theater Dean Travis Preston.

In keeping with a school founded by Walt Disney, many leaders in the field attended CalArts. Continuing the legacy, the CalArts School of Theater is launching a new specialization in Experience Design/Themed entertainment within its Design and Production Program.

In the photo at the top of the page, a student presents her team’s ideas for a play-space built around the character of WALL-E in an experience design class at CalArts.

“Bringing together industry leaders and visionaries to explore the future of immersive realities, the conference is a perfect match with CalArts’ experimental ethos,” said Gary Goddard, CalArts alumnus and founder, director and chairman of Goddard Group, one of the foremost entertainment design firms in the world.

“As an alumnus of its School of Theater and a student in the Schools of Film and Dance, I’ve experienced how the Institute’s focus on innovation prepares students to take the lead in the field of Experience Design,” Goddard said. “By holding the conference on the campus, students and professionals alike will be exposed to leading-edge developments in storytelling, architecture, design and more.”

CalArts alumni like Goddard and Jung have paved the way in the industry’s development since the school’s inception. Another CalArts alumnus and faculty member, Jason McManus is the Art Director of the Thinkwell Group. His conference presentation, “How Millennials Tell Stories,” will explore how the evolution of audiences for themed entertainment affects new directions in immersive storytelling.

Prominent Calartians in the field include Bob Rogers, founder and CEO of themed entertainment company BRC Imagination Arts; Scott Ault, President and CEO of experience design firm Rethink Leisure & Entertainment; and Jonathan Casson, who sits on the TEA Asia Pacific Division Board of Directors.

CalArts’s central role in the history of themed entertainment provides the ideal backdrop for a discussion of the industry.

Walt Disney first had the inspiration for CalArts after gathering a group of artists, writers and skilled workers to design Disneyland, a prototype for today’s themed entertainment environments. Their efforts inspired Disney’s vision to train future artists and innovators in the spirit of collaborative practice.

CalArts opened its doors in 1970 and has since upheld its founding mission of both rigorous training and open-ended experimentation—pillars of themed entertainment practice.

“CalArts School of Theater provides students with an ever-expanding set of opportunities in new and future pathways for performance and design,” said CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston. “This future-directed vision of entertainment is reflected by the Themed Entertainment Association. We are thrilled to host the SATE Conference as it explores the newest developments in entertainment and looks ahead to the theater of tomorrow.”

The TEA SATE conference at CalArts is made possible by the generous support of sponsors the Goddard Group, Perfect World Education and Acomb Ostendorf & Associates.

Ranked as America’s top college for students in the arts by Newsweek/The Daily Beast, California Institute of the Arts has set the pace for educating professional artists since 1970.

Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools — Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater — CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions.

As successive generations of faculty and alumni have helped shape the landscape of contemporary arts, the Institute first envisioned by Walt Disney encompasses a vibrant, eclectic community with global reach, inviting experimentation, independent inquiry, and active collaboration and exchange among artists, artistic disciplines, and cultural traditions.

The Themed Entertainment Association(TEA) is an international non-profit association representing the world’s leading creators, developers, designers and producers of compelling places and experiences.

TEA members bring the experience of engaging storytelling and entertainment to a vast number of casinos, restaurants, retail stores, museums, zoos, theme parks and an ever-growing list of destinations that aim to bring a higher level of visitor experiences world wide.

Goddard Group: Dream it – Design it – Build it
Since its inception in 2002, Goddard Group has designed more than 50 attractions around the world with a total construction value of well above six billion dollars. Goddard Group’s award-winning creative designs have revolutionized the themed entertainment industry. With an unblemished record of on-time, on-budget performance, Goddard Group offers clients a single, reliable source capable of creating any attraction imaginable. From a single-themed ride to a multi-million dollar theme park, Goddard Group creates the greatest attractions in the world.

Perfect World Education
The business of Perfect World Education covers both kids’ and youth education. In terms of kids’ education, R&D tailored for digital education is the core competitiveness of Hongen Education of Perfect World Investment & Holding Group. More than 20,000 kindergartens, more than 300 training schools and more than five million children in China are using Hongen’s books. Meanwhile, Hongen products are so far exported to more than 10 countries and regions, including the U.S., Italy, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia.

Acomb Ostendorf & Associates
AOA is comprised of top design-and-build professionals in themed entertainment and hospitality who help owners and developers deliver extraordinary guest experiences.

Starting with a consistent philosophy of “put yourself in the guests’ shoes,” we have distinguished ourselves through a unique combination of creative vision and a practical, down-to-Earth approach to getting things done. In an industry that values innovation and vision, AOA has cultivated relationships with partners who share their adventurous drive to make the impossible a reality, to see every boundary as a bracing challenge.